Families of two workers killed in accidents get compensation

The compensation is normally paid through employee insurance which all employers are obliged to take

Families of two Filipina domestic workers who were killed in separate accidents in Hong Kong have received employee compensation totaling more than HK$800,000 (US$102,084).

These payouts, given to workers killed in the course of their work, does not include other claims they might be entitled to from other sources, like for personal injury, unpaid salary, long service, and others, sunwebhk.com reported.

The husband and son of Filipina domestic worker Geraldine Betasolo, aged 37, who died in a car accident in Tai Po in the New Territories in November last year, received HK$437,220.

Her parents were entitled to a 5% share% of the compensation but chose to give up their claim.

Another case involved 35-year-old Filipina worker Rinalyn Duollog, who was killed after falling while cleaning a window at her employer’s apartment in Tsueng Kwan O, the New Territories in August 2016.

As Rinalyn was unmarried, her young son Tristan Jay was given 80% of the compensation, which totaled HK$375,950.

The remaining 20% of the compensation went to her parents and a grandfather, in accordance with the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance.

Also in line with the ordinance, the shares for young children of Geraldine and Rinalyn were to be locked in a trust fund until they reach the age of majority.

According to the Ordinance, an employer is liable to pay compensation to a worker “who sustains an injury or dies as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.”

The compensation is normally paid through employee insurance, which all employers are obliged to take.